According to Jörg Schlobach of Rheinmetall, the growth of the self-propelled artillery market is due to the changing political landscape in several regions, especially along the European border with Russia.
He explained that the current dominant trend towards traditional military operations (similar to those planned during the Cold War) and the move away from asymmetric or counterinsurgency conflict determine the need for systems with long ranges, in some cases up to 70 km.
Against this background, the demand for self-propelled platforms that offer good maneuverability and range at the same time has sharply increased. For example, recently the number of operators of the PzH 2000 howitzer, originally developed by Krauss-Maffei Wegmann (KMW) and Rheinmetall for the German army, has roughly doubled, with new customers in Croatia, Lithuania and more recently in Hungary joining existing operators in Germany, Greece, Italy and the Netherlands.
"There is an increased demand for artillery, of course this is due to the changing political landscape, which is returning to something akin to traditional warfare,"
said Shlobach.
Opportunity management
Mark Signorelli of BAE Systems noted that in the era of counterinsurgency that began in the early 2000s, artillery was generally used very rarely, with the possible exception of the recent conflict in Syria. US Army artillery units tended to carry out more infantry and police missions, but things began to change markedly "as the emphasis is again on a return to the threat of an almost equal armored force with highly effective artillery systems."
Units again began to pay great attention to preparing for their basic tasks, there is an accelerated growth in many areas related to artillery, from guns with increased range to missile systems. “I think this really led to a reappraisal and revival of artillery as a key component of ground combat. We are also starting to expand these opportunities."
The BAE company in the field of self-propelled artillery works in three main areas: the self-propelled howitzer AS90, which is in service with the British army; self-propelled gun Archer, offered for the US Army and other countries; and the M109 family of self-propelled howitzers, the newest version of which (M109A7) is being adopted by the American army.
In recent years, technological development has taken several directions. The M109A7 howitzer, for example, was designed with two main goals in mind. First of all, it was necessary to improve mobility through a new platform and chassis based on the Bradley BMP. "Mobility is one of the most important characteristics of such systems, that is, you can shoot and then quickly leave the position," - said Signorelli.
Secondly, the emphasis was on combat resilience, which was enhanced through the integration of improved armor. The third, although not so urgent, was the modernization of the systems of the original version of the M109, aimed at solving any problems with aging.
Another characteristic of self-propelled artillery systems, the priority of which is likely to remain in the near future, is automation. One notable example is the Remote-Controlled Howitzer 155mm (RCH 155) on a Boxer chassis. It is based on the KMW Artillery Gun Module, which has a 52 caliber gun made by Rheinmetall.
“The Artillery Gun Module of the Boxer RCH 155 platform is uninhabited, it implements automatic navigation and fire control. The processes of aiming and loading ammunition are fully automated, - said a spokesman for ARTEC, a joint venture between KMW and Rheinmetall. - The machine does not need to be equipped with hydraulic systems for firing. This leads to a reduction in the size of the crew to two people (commander and driver) and provides great advantages in terms of quick change of positions - “fired and left” - with a minimum crew size”.
Automation
Automation is critical to the ammunition loading process, Schlobach said. This is due to several factors, not least the lack of human resources in many ground forces. He pointed to the ever higher level of networked organization of the modern military: "Modern artillery and future artillery will be much more involved in networked warfare."
The Israeli company Elbit Systems also cites automation as one of the most important trends in the field of self-propelled artillery, along with improved mobility. “Automation and autonomy are the keys to dramatically increasing combat effectiveness,” a company spokesman said. "Full automation of all processes in the gun, including the handling and loading of ammunition and guidance, can significantly increase the number of fire missions that a gun can perform in a certain period of time, and thus increase the effectiveness of the artillery unit."
He noted that automation and autonomy are not yet at the required level of capabilities to provide the required impact on the battlefield.
“To achieve maximum effectiveness, an artillery component must bring a balance of first-class weapons to suit the needs of the army, appropriate command and control structures and systems, appropriate communications, tactics, and so on. It should be a comprehensive and well-balanced solution.”
However, Elbit believes that in the coming years, the increased emphasis on automation will be evident at all stages, from target identification to task completion. “We are confident that we have achieved an optimal solution to the complex engineering problem of automating the gun itself, including all aspects of handling and loading ammunition, while additional technological emphasis will be directed to increasing the range and rate of fire of the cannon artillery. - said the representative of the company. "Of course, a lot of attention will be paid to improving the ammunition itself - their lethality, range and accuracy."
Elbit's current flagship product in this area is the 155mm ATMOS howitzer on a truck chassis, which was delivered to several customers in 2018; her representative said that several more contracts are expected to be signed during 2019.
“We believe that in the coming years the need for self-propelled artillery will remain high due to the increased demand of the armies of many countries. This demand is a consequence of the evolving nature of conflicts and a recurring emphasis on preparedness for high-intensity conflicts and conflicts with equal and near-equal armies, which necessitates the need for powerful and agile artillery, as well as the fact that existing artillery forces and weapons are becoming obsolete to such an extent. that it is no longer worth developing solutions to extend their life."
Accuracy is all over the head
According to a Thales representative, digitization is likely to have an increasing impact on fire control for self-propelled artillery and artillery in general. The company is showing some interest in this area.
“Like many areas of military affairs, digitization is changing the principles of artillery fire control. Digital fire control systems help improve accuracy, responsiveness and combat stability on the battlefield. They digitize the functions of fire control, which were previously performed manually by the calculation of the gun."
Thales' portfolio includes the 2R2M 120-mm mortar, which can be mounted on various types of armored vehicles and is suitable for wheeled and tracked armored vehicles. In the context of this article, we are interested in the fact that this company specializes in the development of high-precision ammunition. “Technological innovation means that precision munitions are developing rapidly. Capabilities that were once only available in large, difficult to deploy and expensive guided missiles are now available in much smaller systems and at substantially less cost.”
Thales' MGM (Mortar Guided Munition) mortar round offers an accuracy of less than a meter through laser semi-active homing, as well as increased range. They can work on stationary and moving targets. "At a critical juncture, MGM is giving modern troops a breakthrough artillery capability."
According to Signorelli, while the basic types of ammunition have not changed, their range has increased. This has been achieved through the use of technologies such as the outflow of gases from the bottom and improved propellants, as well as improved active-rocket and ballistic projectiles. Accuracy has also been improved not only by the introduction of high-precision guidance, but also by eliminating inaccuracies and production errors.
“I believe we are starting to see a new generation of these capabilities emerge where you have a combination of improved propellants and improved precision targeting, which reduces cost and increases accuracy. Combined with some long-range cannons, these improvements give an even greater range increase."
- explained Signorelli.
A BAE Systems spokesman also noted that the entire industry is placing increasing emphasis on accuracy. “Our customers are looking for artillery shells that can adjust their trajectory after firing in order to deliver high-precision strikes at a distance of more than 70 km and in conditions of a weak GPS signal. With improved guidance, the crews will be able to hit targets more effectively, at longer ranges, with fewer shells. High-precision strikes also reduce the level of indirect losses and the amount of fire support."
BAE Systems is developing PGK (Precision Guidance Kit) high-precision guidance kits for 155-mm artillery shells for the US Army under a contract signed in January 2018. They are designed to work even in the absence of a GPS signal, which the company considers today a key requirement.
“As the US military seeks to deploy longer range weapon systems, the development of guidance technology must accelerate to meet these evolving needs. We are actively working on the development of guidance kits that can ensure accuracy and at the same time meet the requirements of the army in terms of range and noise immunity."
After the conclusion of the contract, BAE said that the correction of the trajectory in flight with the PGK-AJ system increases the effectiveness of the fire mission, allowing operators to more accurately fire at targets for longer periods of time, spending less ammunition, which results in a decrease in the amount of logistic support. The company noted the need for systems that would be adaptable and compatible with existing and experimental artillery systems and ammunition, including the M109 family of self-propelled guns and the M777-type towed howitzers.
“We understand the importance of maintaining the accuracy of the US Army's long-range artillery against any enemy, - said the representative of BAE Systems during the signing of the contract.
“Our kits will provide these capabilities for current and future 155-mm platforms designed for significantly longer ranges. We were selected for this program due to our extensive experience in precision targeting technology and our ability to achieve high levels of design and manufacturing.
Guidance principles
Northrop Grumman is also developing high-precision guidance devices (PGK), after the purchase of Orbital ATK, the M1156 kit was included in its portfolio. It is capable of turning 155-mm M795 and M549A1 artillery shells into smart weapons. Bernie Gruber, director of guided missiles at Northrop, said that "our PGK revolutionized artillery operations for the US Army and very quickly became the system of choice for supporting combat operations."
He claims that with a GPS system, the PGK fuse is as important in the US Army as the GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munition tail rudder kit is in the US Air Force.
Northrop recently launched production of the M1156 for the military, two years ago, with over 23,000 kits delivered to date. According to Gruber, from the very beginning of the program, there was a requirement to develop a device that would direct existing projectiles at a circular probable deviation (CEP) threshold of 30 meters, but the company achieved an average CEP of less than 10 meters and 99% reliability.
“At the same time, we know that the US military is eager to improve its capabilities in long-range precision fire. We have developed versions of our PGK technology to meet their needs,”he added.
Such work includes the development of a projectile with tail rudders guiding it to the target, a fuse in the nose, the "brains" of which, for example, control guidance.
“While this will require the design and skill of a completely new projectile, it can take advantage of the bottom gas generator or rocket booster to achieve the desired range, while relying on proven PGK technology to improve accuracy. One of the advantages of a projectile controlled by tail rudders is that it has great dynamics, so it will have an increased range compared to a conventional projectile equipped with a PGK kit, while targeting a projectile with tail rudders provides an increase in its maneuverability by about seven times.
Northrop is exploring other technologies as well. For example, a projectile with wings in the middle that guides it towards the target, in addition, allows it to glide, which increases the flight range. Other technologies could be used in this concept, for example, rocket motor and bottom blowing. "We do not currently have a contract for the production of this type of ammunition, but we are actively working with the US military to understand their requirements and work together to work out a solution that satisfies both sides."
Smart projectiles
In the ammunition field, Rheinmetall offers the SMArt155 touch fuse artillery shell, supplied by GIWS, a joint venture with Diehl Defense. The relaunch of the production of this product was announced at Eurosatory 2018 in Paris. The projectile meets the criteria established by the Convention on Cluster Munitions and is aimed at minimizing indirect losses. Each projectile is capable of fighting stationary and mobile armored vehicles at long distances.
According to Rheinmetall, the projectile has a thin-walled load-bearing capsule, which allows to obtain the maximum volume for two autonomous intelligent submunitions. The multi-mode sensory system enhances their impact. "The combination of excellent detection and suppression of decoys, a large engagement area, a high probability of destruction and excellent warhead performance guarantees maximum lethality and destruction on the ground, effective neutralization of enemy armored vehicles," the company said.
According to the company, firing missions can be performed with a small number of shells in a very short time, which allows the use of the "fire and leave" tactic and at the same time significantly reduce the effectiveness of enemy counter-battery fire, and this is a critical factor in protecting one's forces. Excessive self-destruction is the main feature of the SMArt 155 projectile.
"If the target is not detected in the area of application of the striking element, then two independent mechanisms ensure that the projectile self-destructs, which allows their forces to enter the area with confidence."
The company said:
“There is a target, there is no target, the warhead is triggered immediately, as soon as the striking element on the parachute descends to a height of less than 20 meters. If this function does not work and the sub-projectile lands intact, its warhead will automatically detonate as soon as the battery charge falls below a certain level. This mode also covers possible faults in sensors or electronics."
Shlobach stressed that the renewed interest in such ammunition is due to changes in the priorities of the Western military. “It was not so important in Afghanistan and Iraq, but now it has become more important for the Western armies and therefore the production of the SMArt projectile has been resumed. The German military buys new shells and renews their old SMArt arsenal. Many other countries are also looking for a similar solution, now they see the point in bringing it back to the market."
Shlobach said one of the key challenges that armies will face in the coming years is how to increase the proportion of precision fire while increasing range. High-precision guidance can be integrated into shells, but this will require a large financial investment. Users and politicians will therefore have to define not only what is needed, but also what is acceptable.
Looking for an extension
Leonardo is also a major player in the guided munitions market with its Vulcano family, which focuses on 155 mm guided munitions for ground systems. The company believes that this area has huge growth potential, in particular in the US Army; at the same time, the market of a number of European countries is also promising, as well as a wider world market.
In addition, Leonardo is changing the gun to the M109 howitzer, replacing the existing 39-caliber cannon with a 52-caliber system. According to the company, the goal is to improve accuracy and increase range, which provides for the transition to longer-range guided munitions. The company also expects to gradually increase the proportion of automation in artillery systems over the next decades.
Signorelli believes that in the long term, increased accuracy will remain the dominant theme in the field of self-propelled artillery, although some users may still opt for a lower cost and a larger volume of supplies. He believes that progress will allow for the same effect, but with fewer smaller caliber shells, while their range will only increase.
Regarding automation, Signorelli remarked:
“Today, the capabilities of artillery systems are limited mainly by the crews that operate them. We have achieved an increase in rate of fire through automation. At the same time, automation is a lifeline for many countries in which there is a shortage of human resources capable of fully servicing artillery systems. Therefore, automation gives us certain advantages here."
According to Signorelli, as technology develops in the field of artillery systems, especially self-propelled platforms, not only tactics and doctrine will be revised, but also the types of combat missions in which artillery can be used. He explained:
“We began to discuss with customers from the army and navy about the use of shells for cannon artillery in completely new tasks, for example, in the tasks of anti-aircraft and anti-missile defense. As technologies are developed, the synergy of many technical improvements will make it possible to rethink the use of artillery as a decisive weapon of war.
Everything develops in a spiral - as you develop opportunities, you find new ways, new methods, tactics and ways of application, which then leads to the further development of technology. I think the inherent flexibility of artillery systems will allow them, most likely, to remain the center of development for a very long time."
